Grant Thornton UK on course to hit 160 partner hire target early
Leading business and financial advisor Grant Thornton UK made 13 new partner appointments last month, taking its total partner appointments for the year so far to 121. The firm expects to reach its partnership growth target of 160 in the first quarter of 2027, almost a year ahead of schedule.
It has no plans to stop there. Once the original target is met, Grant Thornton UK expects to announce a new and more ambitious goal in the New Year.
The firm appointed 13 new equity partners across its Audit, Tax and Advisory practices during the month of September, comprising 12 external hires and one internal promotion.
The latest appointments demonstrate continued momentum behind the firm’s ambitious growth strategy and strengthen its capabilities across all service lines and particularly in areas of growing client demand. The new partners bring expertise across indirect and corporate tax, commercial audit, restructuring, financial crime, asset recovery, financial services risk, employer solutions and corporate finance advisory.
The expansion is supported by significant multi-year investment in the firm’s people, technology and client experience. Grant Thornton UK was the first professional services firm in the UK to roll out Anthropic’s Claude across Audit, Tax and Advisory, augmenting what practitioners can do for clients. It gives specialists more time for the judgement calls and conversations that shape a client’s decision. The firm has also invested in building the partner pipeline of the future through our redesigned early careers programme, with market-leading starting salaries and greater development for graduates and school leavers.
The investment is being made alongside strong financial performance. In the six months to 30 June 2026, Grant Thornton UK grew net income and EBITDAP across every service line, while continuing to invest in attracting and retaining senior talent. Every partner is offered equity partnership as part of the firm’s reward structure.
The external hires join Grant Thornton UK from a range of firms. Alongside these appointments we’re actively promoting our internal talent too. George Williams has been promoted to Partner within the firm’s Indirect Tax team. Having joined Grant Thornton as an associate in 2015, his promotion after 11 years with the firm demonstrates its continued focus on developing internal talent alongside targeted external recruitment.
Malcolm Gomersall, Chief Executive Officer of Grant Thornton UK, said:
“We knew adding 160 new partners to our firm by the end of 2027 was ambitious and people are noticing what we’re doing, and they want to be part of it, which is fuelling our passion for growth. We’re an exceptional firm, and exceptional people are choosing to work here. Senior leaders are joining because they see the opportunity to grow with us, invest in their teams and make an even greater difference for our clients.”
Abigail Fisher, Chief People Officer of Grant Thornton UK, said:
“Our growth is about more than the number of people joining us. We’re creating an environment where talented people can build long-term careers and share in the success they help create. A clear route to equity partnership, alongside continued investment in our people, is an important part of that proposition. At the same time, our internal promotions, including George’s shows our commitment to developing great talent from within.”
The partners appointed in September are as follows:
- Alan Frost, Partner, Consulting
- Alex James, Partner, Financial Services Business Risk Services
- Alex Murdoch, Partner, Employer Solutions (Tax)
- George Williams, Partner, Indirect Tax
- James Hutchings, Partner, Commercial Audit
- Keith Aylwin, Partner, Financial Services Advisory
- Pritesh Patel, Partner, Financial Services Business Risk Services
- Richard Stark, Partner, Corporate Finance Advisory
- Rob Bray MBE, Partner, Business Risk Services - UK Programme Risk and Assurance Leader
- Sam Haskins, Partner, Forensic – Financial Crime
- Sam Mills, Partner, Turnaround
- Syed Ali Mehdi, Partner, Financial Services Business Risk Services
- William Rose, Partner, Corporate Tax